Our Daily Bread Do It Now! — by David C. McCasland

Our Daily Bread for December 29, 2010

Read: Deuteronomy 4:1-10
What great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments? —Deuteronomy 4:8
Bible in a year:
Zechariah 9-12; Revelation 20

In the frenzied early days of the Internet, Web developers were making up their own rules. The result was confusion. Among the problems was that what looked good on one computer was unreadable on another. This caused developers to refer to the Internet as the wild, wild Web, an allusion to the days of the wild, wild West in the US when law and order were pretty much nonexistent. To bring order out of chaos, Web developers started calling for others to agree on common standards.

Their plea reminds us of why it was important for the Israelites to have laws to live by when they left Egypt (Deut. 4:1). Without them, there would be anarchy. With them, however, they would have a system that was so superior that it would demonstrate to other nations the greatness of their God (v.8).

Today, to bring order out of the chaos of our sinful, selfish world, believers submit to the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2), who Himself is the fulfillment of the law (Matt. 5:17). When we submit to the standard established by Christ and love others as God loves us, we will live in peace with one another and thus provide a witness to the world of how great God is.

Let us go forth, as called of God,
Redeemed by Jesus' precious blood;
His love to show, His life to live,
His message speak, His mercy give. —Whittle

The world will know by our love for God and others
that He is great.

Taken From:..."Our Daily Bread"

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:8-15

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed. —2 Corinthians 4:8

Have you ever heard skeptics say that the Christian faith is nothing more than a crutch—that the only reason people claim to trust Jesus is that they are weaklings who have to make up "religion" to get by?

Apparently those skeptics haven't heard about the doctor in one Far Eastern country who spent 2 ½ years in jail being "reeducated" because he professed faith in Christ. Then, after his release, he was arrested again—this time for his efforts at his church.

And perhaps those skeptics haven't heard about Paul. After trusting Christ, he was arrested, flogged, mocked, and shipwrecked (2 Cor. 11:16-29).

These believers were not looking for a crutch. No, they had something deep and essential in their hearts. They had a personal relationship with God—a relationship born of faith in the work of Jesus on the cross. As a result, they became children of the King—eager to sacrifice everything for the privilege of proclaiming Him. They were not limping along looking for something to hold them up.

A crutch? Hardly. Faith in Christ is not about safety and caution. It's about believing Jesus and trusting Him no matter what. It's about taking up a daily cross (Luke 9:23) and living for the Savior.

"Take up your cross," the Savior said,
"If you would My disciple be;
Take up your cross with willing heart
And humbly follow after Me." —Everest

Because Jesus bore the cross for us,
we willingly take it up for Him.

P.S.- Pass This On
James 1:22
God Knows ....... ;o)

Do It Now!
— by David C. McCasland
Our Daily Bread
Read: Hebrews 3:7-15
Exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. —Hebrews 3:13
Bible in a year:
Jeremiah 37-39; Hebrews 3
Several years ago a friend took me to a motivational seminar that I thoroughly enjoyed. Instead of focusing on money and success, the leaders guided us toward understanding our unique identity and purpose in life. Then they passed along some helpful methods for effective living. One motto has stayed with me: "Do it now!" The principle they taught us was that it takes as much energy to avoid a task as it does to do it. Procrastination saps power; completion gives relief.
A spiritual application can be seen in Hebrews 3, a passage filled with an air of immediacy as it calls us to obey the Lord. "`Today,' if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, . . . but exhort one another daily, while it is called `Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (vv.7-8,13). We don't know how long it would have taken the children of Israel to reach the Promised Land if they had obeyed God, but their 40-year journey resulted from their unwilling hearts. An entire generation missed the adventure of a lifetime (vv.8-11).
When we know how the Lord wants us to live, why don't we just say "Yes!" No debate, no delay. Do it now!
It's easy to procrastinate
And leave good deeds undone,
But such a course will bring regrets
When life's short race is run. —Anon.
Do it now! Today will be yesterday tomorrow.